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“Don’t do it as much anymore, huh? Too busy living the high life in Aston Falls?” Hmm. That was meant to be lighthearted, but it came out a touch bitter and resentful. Maybe I’m not quite as over everything as I thought I was. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound harsh.”
“You’re fine, Teeny. And you’re right. Life’s been a lot lately, but I do miss baking. It was, like, my relaxation time. Well, that and the gym.”
He flexes his tanned, muscular biceps in a joking manner. I roll my eyes. “I’ll never understand it.”
“Understand what?”
“You’re a chef. You eat delicious food all the time, and you clearly love baking.”
“Correct on all counts.”
“So how on earth do you manage to keep in shape? If I was eating nonstop brownies and cheese and butter, I would not look like that.”
Ethan waggles his eyebrows. “Look like what, Teeny?”
Oh, no! I definitely didn’t want to sound flirty. Backtrack, backtrack!
“No!” I sputter. “I mean… I didn’t think…”
“I’m giving you a hard time.” Ethan smirks. “Way I see it, you should eat the things you love and do what makes you feel good. Life’s tough, why deprive yourself of the things that bring you joy?”
I lick the final crumbs off my lips. “You’re wise for your age.”
Ethan’s gaze drops to my mouth briefly, and when he speaks again, his voice is pensive. “Loss is a good teacher.”
There’s a slight tightening at the corner of his eyes, and his lips press into a line. This close, I see the freckles across his cheekbone, the way his scruff is growing in almost auburn near his chin.
There really is something different about him. He’s more world-wary, has this sort of cautious alertness to him. Maybe he’s just more mature.
He shoots me a glance, and I abruptly look away. “You were a good teacher too, that one time.”
“Which time?” I ask innocently. “There are so many to choose from.”
“You know the one. That day in front of my house.”
I give my head a shake. “I still can’t believe I was the one to teach you that.”
“It took a few tries, but look at me now.” Ethan taps the stick, shifts from second to third gear.
I sigh loudly, even as my chest feels heavy.
Of course I remember that day. It was the same day everything changed.
8
Val
Four Years Ago
The church services went pretty much as expected.
Carmen and Alicia spent the first fifteen minutes squabbling over who got to wear the precious pink hair bow today (there’s only one, and clearly, it’s in high demand), while my oldest brother Pete tried unsuccessfully to budge me over so he wouldn’t have to sit next to Mrs. Nonstop-Chatter (Mrs. Finlay is an absolute dear, but she will talk your ear off for a good two hours if you let her).
Meanwhile, I sat quietly in the pew, trying and failing to read my book. I probably should’ve been reading The Book while waiting for Pastor Holden to start his sermon, but I’m at such a good part.
As much as I love my family, they’re a little nuts. It’s part of the reason I love the treehouse and Ethan’s grandparents’ place. There’s so much silence, so much order. Nothing like my house, which is practically the family-home equivalent of an elephant in a china shop. Or however the expression goes.
Which is why, two and a half hours later, I’m escaping my house again. Carmen and Alicia never settled their bow fight and the conflict has escalated to include the time Alicia “accidentally on purpose” read Carmen’s diary. This time, Mom’s playing mediator while Dad clangs around the garage fixing the car so my other brother Simon can drive it to his softball tournament.
